Heartline Magazine July - September 2005
Healthy Weight, Healthy Shape, Dynamic World Heart Day programme
 In an effort to increase awareness of heart health, World
Heart Day seeks to encourage the world’s population to lead a healthier
lifestyle by taking more physical exercise and reducing the risk of heart
disease through smoke-free living, healthy nutrition and weight control.
This year The Heart Foundation of Barbados and Guardian Life
of the Caribbean joined hands in observing this significant day with a dynamic
programme, held at the Ursuline Convent, Collymore Rock, St. Michael, on Sunday
25th September, beginning at 4 p.m.
Genesis Dance
Studio gave a delightful display of Line Dancing
Under the theme Healthy Weight, Healthy Shape the event
featured presentations by Professor Henry Fraser, a distinguished member of the
University of the West Indies Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Anselm Hennis, well known
in regional and international medical research communities, and Beverley
Stanford, a nutritionist at the National Nutritional Centre of the Ministry of
Health in Barbados, who all spoke on the benefits of good nutrition, exercise
and healthy living habits.
Patrons were also treated to an exhibition of line dancing
by Genesis Dance Studio, whose delightful display aptly showed the benefits of
having a body that is fit and lithe.
Additionally, there was the opportunity to get blood
pressure checks and to view a number of product displays set up by
pharmaceutical companies Stokes and Bynoe Ltd. and Collins Ltd. Altogether, it
was a fine evening.
First to speak was Dr. Anselm Hennis who looked at the
condition of obesity. He stated that nearly 1 billion persons worldwide are
overweight, but noted that over-nutrition is not a new phenomenon. However,
larger numbers of humans are now obese than has ever been evident before. “We
live in an era” he said “of a new and expanding global epidemic of obesity.” Dr.
Hennis revealed that among Barbadians, 60% of women are overweight and 30%
obese, compared to 30% of men being overweight and 10% obese. (An edited text of
Dr. Hennis’ presentation is on page 12).
Mrs. Stanford encouraged the audience to eat a variety of
foods, but practice energy balance. “Always remember”, she said, “that what you
eat and drink can affect your heart.” She reminded that weight loss reduces the
workload of your heart and helps keep blood pressure under control. It also
helps to lower blood cholesterol. Mrs. Stanford gave a detailed description of
nutrition facts, and urged persons to read nutrition facts on labels carefully
before purchasing products. She said, “It is important that you should increase
your intake of dietary fibre, and restrict the use of salt and salty foods; also
include fruit and vegetables in your diet.”
“The basic rule” she said “is to eat healthy and exercise.”
Professor Fraser’s presentation was centred on the benefits
and pleasures of exercise, which, he said, have been known and enjoyed for
millennia. “The common sense of the ages” he said “is now supported by a vast
body of solid medical evidence that shows the benefits of exercise.”
Some of these are that exercise promotes longevity, i.e. active people live
longer, it reduces heart disease, it reduces high blood pressure and also
reduces the development of diabetes as well as control diabetes. He said that
exercise also increases physical and cardiovascular fitness and benefits work
performance, sexual and mental performance.
How much exercise should we do? And what kind? Dr. Fraser suggests that
individuals can find their own level, and whether it’s formal exercise in a gym,
aerobics at home or activity around the home or garden, the basic principle is
movement. He said, “there must be some exercise we like other than running our
mouth, chasing pipe dreams and jumping to conclusions. Try walking, dancing,
jogging, cycling, skipping, aerobics, working out with weights, volleyball,
gardening. Or just do some push ups.”
Opening introduction was made by Angela Emtage, chairman of
the Cardiac Support Group, the unit in the Heart Foundation of Barbados that
organizes World Heart Day, and the welcome was made by Deryck Murray, V.P.
Employee benefits, Guardian Life of the Caribbean Ltd.
Guardian Life has agreed to sponsor the World Heart Day
programme in Barbados for a three-year period, and already plans are underway to
have an expanded programme next year, which will see a Week of Activities,
including a church service, a health walk, a competition for primary school
students, and a lecture.
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